BA | Undergraduate

Drama and English

Students undertaking Drama and English at Queen’s explore theatre, performance, literature and language in the widest possible sense; from ancient Greece to Renaissance England, to the Irish Literary Revival and on to Postmodern America; from the earliest writings in Anglo-Saxon to contemporary Irish, British, and ‘global’ literatures.

Drama and English Degree highlights

Drama Studies at Queen’s builds on the remarkable heritage of Drama in Northern Ireland, as represented by its internationally acclaimed playwrights.

Industry Links

Students have the opportunity to undertake a work placement in Year 3. This is a significant learning and employability enhancement opportunity. Drama at Queen’s collaborates with leading arts organisations and theatre companies, such as the Belfast Festival, The Linen Hall Library, The Lyric Theatre, Prime Cut Productions, Tinderbox Theatre Company, Kabosh, and Ransom Productions, all of whom have helped us develop a vital professional practice dimension as part of our overall provision.

World Class Facilities

Our main teaching space, the Brian Friel Theatre (www.brianfrieltheatre.co.uk), is one of the best-equipped theatres in Belfast with a 120-seat studio theatre, rehearsal room, dressing rooms, green room and workshop, housed in the Drama and Film Centre which also comprises the Queen’s Film Theatre.

Internationally Renowned Experts

Professor Richard Schoch is a leading scholar of Shakespeare with a long-standing research collaboration with the Folger Library. Richard has won various awards including the 2013 Oscar Brockett Essay Prize from the American Society for Theatre Research (ASTR) and his books have been shortlisted for the Barnard Hewitt Award (ASTR) and the Theatre Book Prize (Society for Theatre Research, UK).

Student Experience

From Personal Tutors to peer mentoring, we work closely with students to ensure they are supported at every stage of their degree.

Extracurricular performance opportunities are offered by the Tyrone Guthrie Society and the student Drama Society, which have taken productions to student festivals in Ireland and the UK. Productions have also been taken to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and to festivals in Belgium and Italy.

“On starting English Literature degree in 2015, I never thought that I'd be dreading final year just for the fact I wouldn't be a part of English at Queen’s anymore. I've had the chance to study such a breadth of prose, poetry and drama across all sorts of periods under some of the most fantastic lecturers. Probably my favourite aspect of studying at Queen's is the community and friends that I've made within English. From being able to attend my lecturers' research seminars to peer mentoring first years, it feels like a (fantastically literary) family and I feel I couldn't have made a better choice.”

Learning and Teaching

At Queen’s, students work in an ambitious learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable students to achieve their full academic potential.

On the Drama and English degree pathway we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

E-LearningInformation associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Queen’s Online. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree through, for example: interactive group workshops in a flexible learning space; IT and statistics modules; podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities; opportunities to use IT programmes associated with design in practicals and project- based work etc.

Lecturesintroduce basic information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in large groups to all year group peers).

Personal TutorUndergraduates are allocated a Personal Tutor during Level 1 and 2 who meets with them on several occasions during the year to support their academic development.

Self-directed studyThis is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.

Seminars/workshopsSignificant amounts of teaching are carried out in small groups (typically 10-16 students). These provide an opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of peers. You should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups.

Supervised projectsIn final year, you may choose a year-long Dissertation module which requires you to carry out a significant piece of research on a topic that you have chosen. You will receive support from a supervisor who will guide you in terms of how to carry out your research and will provide feedback to you on at least 2 occasions during the write up stage.

Assessment

Details of assessments associated with this course are outlined below:

Assessments are designed to evidence your engagement with the learning objectives of each module, which will be advertised in advance of module selection. Modules are assessed variously through project work, individual and/ or group presentations, as well as more traditional written essays and assignments. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction.

Feedback

As students progress through their degree at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and peers. University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted.

Face to face comment. This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “Feedback and Guidance hours” to help you to address a specific query

Placement employer comments or references

Online or emailed comment

General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.

Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time.

Feedback and outcomes from practical classes

Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.

Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.

Facilities

The Brian Friel Theatre is one of the best equipped theatres in Belfast with a 120 seat studio theatre, rehearsal room, dressing rooms, green room and workshop, housed in the Drama & Film Centre which opened in 2004 which also comprises the Queen's Film Theatre.

Drama also collaborates with leading arts organizations and theatre companies, such as the Belfast Festival, The Linen Hall Library, The Lyric Theatre, Prime Cut Productions, Tinderbox Theatre Company, Kabosh, and Ransom Productions, all of whom have helped us develop a vital professional practice dimension as part of our overall provision.http://www.brianfrieltheatre.co.uk

Access/Foundation CourseSuccessful completion of Access Course with an average of 65% including an average of 65% in Literature modules.

International Baccalaureate Diploma32 points overall, including 6,5,5 at Higher Level, including English

GraduateA minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree, provided any subject requirement is also met

Selection Criteria

In addition, to the entrance requirements above, it is essential that you read our guidance below on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application.

Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by individual University Schools. Once your on-line form has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.

Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.

For last year's intake, applicants for this BA programme offering A-level/BTEC Level 3 qualifications must have had, or been able to achieve, a minimum of five GCSE passes at grade C or better (to include English Language). Performance in any AS or A-level examinations already completed would also have been taken into account and the Selector checks that any specific entry requirements in terms of GCSE and/or A-level subjects can be fulfilled.

Applicants who are made an offer for a Drama degree pathway are invited to attend an interview day, which includes a practice-based workshop and an individual interview. Applicants are assessed at interview and the scores may be used to differentiate between applicants who have borderline grades in August.

Offers are normally made on the basis of three A-levels. Two subjects at A-level plus two at AS would also be considered. The offer for repeat candidates is set in terms of three A-levels and may be one grade higher than for first time applicants. Grades may be held from the previous year.

Applicants offering two A-levels and one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent qualification), or one A-level and a BTEC Diploma/National Diploma (or equivalent qualification) will also be considered. Offers will be made in terms of performance in individual BTEC units rather than the overall BTEC grade(s) awarded. Please note that a maximum of one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent) will be counted as part of an applicant’s portfolio of qualifications. The normal GCSE profile will be expected.

BTEC Extended Diplomas, Higher National Certificates, and Higher National Diplomas can be considered, provided the subject requirements for entry to English are also fulfilled.

The information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted but, in the case of BA degrees, these are not the final deciding factors in whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.

A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking would not normally be considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking four A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.

If you are made an offer then you may be invited to a Faculty/School Visit Day, which is usually held in the second semester. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University and to find out more about the degree programme of your choice and the facilities on offer. It also gives you a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.

If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact the University Admissions Service (admissions@qub.ac.uk), giving full details of your qualifications and educational background.

English Language Requirements

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level

Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

International Students - Foundation and International Year One Programmes

INTO Queen's offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare international students for undergraduate study at Queen's University. You will learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre on campus, and will have full access to the University's world-class facilities.

These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry.

Career Prospects

IntroductionStudying for a degree in Drama and English at Queen’s will assist you in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic
institutions.http://www.prospects.ac.uk

Employment after the CourseGraduates of Drama at Queen's have gone on to work in professional theatre locally in Northern Ireland and throughout Great Britain and across the world, for example on the production of the recent JK Rowling play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London. Our graduates have also worked on a number of film and TV productions including Game of Thrones.

Graduates from this degree have the proven ability to analyse subjects in depth and develop coherent arguments
in written and verbal form, as well as linguistic fluency and experience of living and working abroad, all of which are highly sought after skills in a global job market. In a context where over half of all graduate
jobs are now open to graduates of any discipline, we have found that employers of all kinds wish to employ English and French graduates. Although many of our graduates are interested in pursuing careers
in teaching, business, the civil service, translating/interpreting or advertising, significant numbers develop careers in a wide range of other sectors.

Alumni SuccessMany of our former graduates have risen to the top of their fields and include many famous figures; for example, in Drama:
• Peter Coulter, award winning journalist, BBC
• Des Kennedy, acclaimed director, notable recent work includes assistant director on JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre London, 2016
• Lisa Magee, acclaimed writer for stage and screen, won the Stewart Parker and Blackburn awards for Girls and Dolls (2006)
• Kerri Quinn, acclaimed actress, notable for her lead role in Educating Rita, Lyric Theatre, Belfast, 2015
• James Rae, technical specialist, HBO, Game of Thrones

Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fee rates are calculated based on a student’s tuition fee status and generally increase annually by inflation. How tuition fees are determined is set out in the Student Finance Framework.

Additional course costs

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library.

If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. A programme may have up to 6 modules per year, each with a recommended text.

Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a final year includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

Students are occasionally required to purchase tickets for performances. This is estimated at a maximim of £100 per year. Students may also incur some costs on props or costumes, but these are discouraged as the School will be able to provide these (or similar) in most cases. In Year 2 students can apply for a number of optional exchanges with institutions in the USA. The cost will vary depending on the institution and length of exchange and can range from £500 - £6,000. Students need to fund the costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence.

Students who undertake a period of study or work abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their degree programme, will incur additional costs in relation to travel, subsistence, insurance and in some cases visa and vaccinations. The costs will vary depending on the location and duration of the placement. Students should be aware that placement and internship modules do not normally involve payment or financial support from either Queen’s or the placement/internship provider. If the placement is undertaken under the European Erasmus programme, students are normally eligible to receive a top-up grant to contribute towards these costs. Current Erasmus grant rates are approximately €250 to €350 per month. A limited number of Erasmus grants is available. Erasmus funding post-Brexit has not yet been confirmed.

How do I fund my study?

There are different tuition fee and student financial support arrangements for students from Northern Ireland, those from England, Scotland and Wales (Great Britain), and those from the rest of the European Union.

International Scholarships

How and when to Apply

How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at: www.ucas.com/apply.

When to Apply
UCAS will start processing applications for entry in autumn 2019 from 1 September 2018.

Advisory closing date: 15 January 2019 (18:00).

Late applications are, in practice, accepted by UCAS throughout the remainder of the application cycle, but you should understand that they are considered by institutions at their discretion, and there can be no guarantee that they will be given the same full level of consideration as applications received by the advisory closing date.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.

The Institution code for Queen's is QBELF and the institution code is Q75.

After an offer is made this will be notified to applicants through UCAS. Confirmation will be emailed by the Admissions and Access Service and this communication will also include Terms and Conditions (www.qub.ac.uk/Study/TermsandConditions) which applicants should read carefully in advance of replying to their offer(s) on UCAS Track.

Additional Information for International (non-EU) Students

Applying through UCAS
Most students make their applications through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) for full-time undergraduate degree programmes at Queen's. The UCAS application deadline for international students is 30 June 2019.

Applying direct
The Direct Entry Application form is to be used by international applicants who wish to apply directly, and only, to Queen's or who have been asked to provide information in advance of submitting a formal UCAS application. Find out more.

Applying through agents and partners
The University’s in-country representatives can assist you to submit a UCAS application or a direct application. Please consult the Agent List to find an agent in your country who will help you with your application to Queen’s University.